Road Transport jobs in Australia

Licensing

Licensing by state

Heavy vehicle licence classes are nationally consistent — LR (light rigid), MR (medium rigid), HR (heavy rigid), HC (heavy combination) and MC (multi-combination) mean the same thing everywhere and a licence issued in one jurisdiction is recognised in all of them. What is NOT national is who issues the licence and the exact holding periods, medical requirements and assessment arrangements: each state and territory road authority runs its own process. As a general pattern you hold a car licence for a period before LR or MR, hold MR or HR before HC, and hold HC before MC — but the exact minimum periods and any exemptions are set jurisdiction by jurisdiction. The single most important difference is the operating law. The Heavy Vehicle National Law, administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, applies in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. It does NOT apply in Western Australia or the Northern Territory, which have not adopted it and regulate heavy vehicles under their own legislation. That means work diaries, fatigue rules, mass and dimension limits, access permits and Chain of Responsibility duties follow a different rulebook in WA and the NT — a genuine and frequently misunderstood difference for drivers who cross borders.

the Australian Capital Territory

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by Access Canberra. The Heavy Vehicle National Law applies in full, with NHVR fatigue, work diary and Chain of Responsibility rules. Because the ACT is small and surrounded by NSW, virtually all ACT-based line haul work crosses into NSW under the same HVNL rules — a rare case where the border makes no practical difference.

New South Wales

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by Transport for NSW via Service NSW, with assessment through Registered Training Organisations approved as Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment providers. The Heavy Vehicle National Law applies in full, including NHVR work diary, fatigue and Chain of Responsibility obligations. Dangerous goods driver licences are issued by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

the Northern Territory

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR). Like Western Australia, the Northern Territory has NOT adopted the Heavy Vehicle National Law and regulates heavy vehicles under its own legislation, so NHVR fatigue rules, work diary requirements and accreditation schemes do not apply in the same form. The NT permits some of the longest road train combinations in the country under its own access framework. Drivers heading into Queensland or South Australia come under the HVNL at the border.

Queensland

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), with practical assessment through TMR or an accredited provider. Queensland is the host jurisdiction for the Heavy Vehicle National Law, so NHVR rules apply in full: standard, Basic Fatigue Management or Advanced Fatigue Management hours, written or electronic work diary for fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles, and Chain of Responsibility duties. Dangerous goods driver licences are issued through TMR.

South Australia

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) through Service SA, with assessment via accredited providers. The Heavy Vehicle National Law applies in full, including NHVR work diary, fatigue and Chain of Responsibility duties. Dangerous goods driver licences are issued by the SA Environment Protection Authority.

Tasmania

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by the Department of State Growth through Service Tasmania, with assessment through approved providers. The Heavy Vehicle National Law applies in full. Tasmania's smaller network means fewer multi-combination routes, and MC work is limited compared with the mainland. Dangerous goods licences are issued through State Growth.

Victoria

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by the Department of Transport and Planning (VicRoads), with assessment through accredited providers. The Heavy Vehicle National Law applies in full. Victoria is the only jurisdiction that has not adopted the model work health and safety laws, operating instead under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 — relevant to loading, unloading and yard duties. Dangerous goods driver licences are issued by WorkSafe Victoria.

Western Australia

Heavy vehicle licences are issued by the Department of Transport (DoT WA). Critically, Western Australia has NOT adopted the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Fatigue management, mass, dimension, loading and access permits are regulated under WA legislation administered by Main Roads WA and WA Police, not the NHVR — so the work diary rules, fatigue hour limits and accreditation schemes are different from the eastern states. Drivers crossing into the NHVR jurisdictions must comply with the HVNL from the border onward. Dangerous goods licences are issued by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.